Apparatus for manufacturing plastic toy balloons



M. HAAS May 15, 1951 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLASTIC TOY BALLOONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1948 INVENTOR.

MILFORD HAAS gazzm AWE/9W5) May 15, 1951 I M. HAAS 2,553,252

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLASTIC TOY BALLOONS Filed May 5, 194a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MILFORD HANS Patented May 15 1951 APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING PLASTIC TOY BALLOONS Milford Haas, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 5, 1948, Serial No. 25,126

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for forming toy balloons.

An object of the present invention proposes construction of a novel inflating and heating oven arranged in a manner to permit a plurality of inflatable members to be simultaneously treated by the oven.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of one of the completed toy balloons.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view thereof, showing the seam between the opposing sheet disc sections of the balloon, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the first step in forming the toy balloon, consisting of cutting circular disc sections from flat thermoplastic sheet material of different colors.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the step of bonding the inflating nipple to one of the cut disc sections, by electronic fusion.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, showing the step of bonding the marginal outer edges of the two disc sections to each other by electronic fusing.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through an oven, showing the step of expanding the flat disc-like walls of the balloon forming body by heating and by the use of compressed heated air.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through an oven arranged to produce an egg-shaped balloon.

Fig. 8 is a similar View, showing the operation of making an observation balloon.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a continuous type oven for inflating and heat treating the inflatable balloons.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line I0-I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of one of the control valves.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of the control Valve, looking in the direction of the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12 and having schematically illustrated, in connection therewith, the operating cams for the control valve.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the operating cam for opening the control valves.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the operating cam for closing the control valves.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the practical embodiment of the invention, I!) designates a flat sheet of thermoplastic material which may be blue or any other color, and II is a similar sheet, which may be red or any other contrasting color and of equal thickness. A thermoplastic material suitable for use in making balloons, in accordance with the present invention, is any one of the synthetic, thermoplastic vinyl resins. For example, the thermoplastic material sold under the trade name, Vinylite, may be used.

From the sheet ID a circular disc I2 is cut by means of a die, or otherwise, and from the sheet II a circular disc I3 is cut by the same die, so that the discs I2 and I3 are of the same size.

One of the two discs is then selected for attachment of the inflating nipple and, a plastic tube I4, of similar material to the sheets I!) and I I, is bonded by electronic fusion at its inner flared end I5 to the side of the disc in any position selected for this purpose. Simultaneously, the material of the disc, closing the inner end of the plastic tube I4, is punctured to complete a passage through the tube.

The two discs I2 and I3 are then superimposed, one on the other, with the tube I4 projecting therefrom, and the outer marginal edges are then sealed together by subjecting them to electronic fusion, by means of pressure ring jaws I6 and H, see Fig. 5. This results in forming a hollow flat body consisting of two flat pliable plastic discs, with no air between the discs.

The flat hollow body is then placed in an oven I8, which is heated by the admission of heated air thereto. If desired, the interior of the oven I8 may be heated in any other desired way as by the use of an electric or gas fired heater, by the use of heating lamps, infra-red lamps or any other combination of these means. The flat, hollow body is then supported at its upper end by a suitable clamp I9, and spaced by this clamp from a horizontal rest 20, so that the gravitational pull of the weight of the material will tend to move the lower side of the body toward and against the rest 20.

Heated compressed air is then introduced through the inflating tube I4, after the disc walls of the body have been rendered soft by the influence of the heated air, so that the body is caused to assume a true spherical form, and come into contact with the rest 20. When this takes place the balloon is detached from the clamp and removed from the oven, with air entrapped team When this contact is established the flow of compressed air to the balloon forming body is arrested. Immediately, the tube 14 is closed and the inflated body removed from the oven [8 and allowed to cool so as'to retain the inflated shape.

When it is desired to form an egg-shaped hal- A shaft 35 extends vertically of the center of the casing 3| and has its bottom end turnably supported in a bearing 36 mounted on the bottom wall 33 of the casing 3i. A worm gear 31 is mounted on the shaft 35 at a point above the bottom wall 33 of the casing 3!. An electric motor 35.! is mounted on the forwardly projected portion of the casing 3! and has its driven shaft 59 projected into the interior of the casing 3|. The inner end of the driven shaft 46 carries a,

worm pinion ii which meshes with the worm gear 3'? for slowly rotating the vertical shaft :15. The top end of the shaft 35 is formed with an outwardly directed flange 42,- see Fig. 11, and a; hollow container #23 is rested thereon. The hollow container 413 is secured to the flange 42 by means of a plurality of pins 44.

loon the operation shown in Fig. 7 is employed.

In this case, the clamp 2| is spaced a greater distance from the horizontal rest 22, and a higher temperature is used in the oven 23 to cause the body of the balloon to expand more in a downward direction, thus producing an elongation of the hollow inflated body. The spherical balloon may be used in carrying out this operation, as the combined weight of the air and the body of the balloon at the higher temperature, which causes a greater softening of the pliable plastic material, will produce the required elongation.

When it is desired to produce an observation type of balloon, a previously inflated spherical balloon is placed in the oven and suspended by a clamp. Hot air is then admitted to the upper zone A of the oven 24, by the intake I, so that a marked differential of temperature with the lower zone B will be obtained. The upper part of the balloon body will then be caused to expand at a greater rate than the lower part, and due to the pull of gravity on the unsupported lower part of the balloon body, considerable downward elongation of the balloon body will take place, which will produce a balloon having a wide upper part and a narrower lower part, simulating the general shape of anchored observation balloons.

In forming the egg-shaped balloon, shown in Fig. 7, or the observation balloon, shown in Fig. 8, the inflatable balloon is formed of circular discs in each case and the body distorted into the desired shape during the heating and inflating operations. This is an important feature of the present invention, as it permits balloons of distorted shape to be formed starting from the circular discs with a consequent saving in cost, as the body need be formed initially from distorted shaped blanks.

Each and all of the steps of the method .or process is carried out without the use of shape determining molds. Only ring bonding jaws are used tofuse the parts to be united and the final shape is obtained by subjecting the bonded disc sections to the softening influence of heated air, under pressure, to obtain a spherical balloon and of heated air, under pressure, and gravity to aid in moulding the balloon forming body to a distorted global shape.

In Figs. 9 to 15 of the drawing, there is illustrated an oven 39 for continuously inflating and heat treating a plurality of inflatable bodies of thermoplastic material at one time. This oven 38 comprises a casing 3| formed with an opening 32 in its front wall and having a portion of its bottom wall 33 projected forwardly beyond the front of the casing. An inlet pipe 34 connected with a source of heated air (not shown) is mounted through one side wall of the casing 31.

A hollow tube i5 is projected through the top wall of the casing 3i and externally of the casing 3|, the tube 95 being connected by means of a flexible tube 46 with a source of heater air under pressure, not shown on the drawings. The inner end of the hollow tube A5 is formed with an outwardly'directecl flange 41 rotatively received in a cup-shaped receivingmember 48 formed on the top wall of the hollow container 43, so that the hollow container 53 may rotate with the shaft 35 while the hollow tube d5 remains still.

, The interior of the cup-shaped receiving member 38 is threaded and a collar 49 is threadedly engaged into the open top of the member 48. Packing material 59 is interposed between the adjacent faces of the top wall of the hollow container lfiand the bottom face of the collar 49 so as to seal the connection of the hollow tube 45 with the hollow container d3 against the loss of heated air under pressure at these interengaged portions.

A plurality of tubulararms 5i extend radially from the hollow container 43 and the outer ends of the arms 51 are bent downwards so as to have the inflating tubes it of the inflatable bodies engaged thereon. The arms 5! are of such length as to extend from the opening 32 at one side of the casing 3| and so as to move into and out of the opening 32 at opposite ends of the casing .31.

lvlormted in each of the tubular arms 5! intermediate of their ends isga control valve 52 having a vertical stem '53 extending from the movable valve element (not shown) on the interior of the control valve. A. bracket 54 extends vertically from the control valve 52 and pivotally supports a control lever 55 by means of a pin 56. The control lever- 55 is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends as clearly shown in Fig. 12. Thecontrol lever 55 extends at right angles to the vertical stem 53 and is formed at its end adjacent the vertical stem with an elongated slot 57. A pin 58 extends from the vertical stem .53 and engages the elongated slot 5! for causing the vertical stem 53 to be moved vertically upwards or downwards as the control lever 55 is pivoted to correspondingly open and close the control valve 52.

'Attached to the front wall of the casingSl above the opening 32 there is an opening cam.59 and a closing cam Bil disposed at a suitable position to engage and pivot the control levers 55 of r the control valves 52 as they pass into and out The closing cam 5|] is formed with an inclined ledge 6| which is adapted to engage beneath the free ends of the control levers 55, as the arms 5| emerge from the opening 32 so as to pivot the control levers 52 in a direction to move the vertical stem 53 downwards and close control valves 52. The control valves 52 are so designed that these movable elements will frictionally maintain positions into which they are pushed.

The operation of the inflating and heating oven shown in Figs. 9 and is as follows:

The electric motor 39 is' setin operation, and heated air is supplied to the inlet pipe 34 and to the short tube 45.

The electric motor 39 will slowly rotate the shaft 35 to cause the arms 5| to successively come out of the opening 32 at one side and enter the opening 32 at the other side. The inflating tubes M of the inflatable bodies are engaged onto the downturned ends of the arms 5| While extended from the opening 32 and the rotation of the shaft 35 will turn the arms 5| into the casing 3 past the openingcam 59 which will pivot the control lever 55 to open the control valve 52 allowing heated air under pressure from the short tube 45 to pass through the hollow container 43. and through the hollow arm 5| to inflate the inflatable body. The heated air Within the inflatable body and the heated air within the casing 3| will soften the thermoplastic material from which the inflatable body was formed to cause the inflatable body to assume a spherical shape as air under pressure is continued to be fed into the inflatable body.

Air, under pressure, is fed into the inflatable body until the arm 5| starts to emerge from the other end of the opening 32, where the ledge 6| of the closing cam 60 will engage beneath the free end of the control lever 55 of the control valve 52 and pivot the control lever to close the valve and stop the supply of heated air to the inflatable body. By this time, the inflatable body is extended to its maximum and is removed from the downturned end of the arm 5| and the inflating tube I4 is closed and the inflated body put on the side to cool. After cooling is completed, the entrapped air is released and the balloon may be completely collapsed to be reinflated when desired.

It is understood that any of the known thermoplastic materials, or combinations of bondable different thermoplastic materials, may be used and that a hollow inflated article of any size and/or shape may be produced by the use of the present process.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like, formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing, a support for the balloons within the casing, a source of heated air for warming the inside of the oven, and a source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons to desired shape while being softened by the Warm air within the casing, said support comprising a plurality of tubular arms supported to be rotatively projected from an opening formed in the casing and to be rotated into and out of the casing through said opening, and means for rotating said arms to carry the balloons to be in= flated and heat treated into and out of the casing.

2. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like, formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing, a support for the balloons within the casing, a source of heated air for warmingthe inside of the oven, and a source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons to desired shape while being softened by the warm air within the casing, said support comprising a plurality of tubular arms supported to be rotatively projected from an opening formed in the casing and to be rotated into and out of the casing through said opening, and means for rotating said arms to carry the balloons to be inflated and heat treated into and out of the casing, said arms being connected with the source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons.

3. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like, formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing, a support for the balloons within the casing, a source of heated air for warming the inside of the oven, and a source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons to desired shape while being sot- .tened by the warm air within the casing, said support comprising a plurality of tubular arms supported to be rotatively projected from an opening formed in the casing and to be rotated into and out of the casing through said opening, and means for rotating said arms to carry the balloons to be inflated and heat treated into and out of the casing, said arms being connected with the source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons, control valves on said arms to controlling the discharge of heated air under pressure into the balloons, and an opening cam and a closing cam for controlling the operation of said valves.

4. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing having a front wall formed with a top opening, a small hollow container rotatively suported within said casing, a plurality of tubular arms projecting radially from said casing to have their free ends move into and out of said opening as said hollow container is rotated, a source of heated air for Warming the interior of said casing, means for connecting said hollow container to a source of heated air under pressure for inflating the ba lloons mounted on the outer ends of said arms, and automatic valve means on the arms for controlling the passage of air through said tubular arms from said hollow container to the balloons mounted on the outer ends of said arms.

5. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing having a front wall formed with a top opening, a small hollow container rotatively supported within said casing, a plurality of tubular arms projecting radially from said casing to have their free ends move into and out of said opening as said hollow container is rotated, a source of heated air for warming the interior of said casing, means for connecting said hollow container to a source or heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons mounted on the outer ends of said arms, and automatic valve means on the arms for controlling the passage of air through said tubular arms from said hollow container to the balloons mounted on the outer ends "of said arms, and motor operated means for continuously rotating said hollow container.

6. An oven for inflating and shaping toy balloons and the like formed of thermoplastic material, comprising a hollow casing having a front wall formed with a top opening, a small hollow container rotatively supported within said casing, a plurality of tubular arms projecting radially from said casing to have their free ends move into and out of said opening as said hollow container is rotated, a source of heated air for warming the interior of said casing, means for connecting said hollow container to a source of heated air under pressure for inflating the balloons mounted on the outer ends of said arms, and automatic valve means on the arms for controlling the passage of air through said tubular arms from said hollow container to the balloons mounted on the outer ends of said arms, said valve means comprising valves mounted in said tubular arms and having projecting pivotally mounted control levers, an opening cam mounted within said casing adjacent where the free 8 ends of said arms enter said casing through said opening to be engaged by said control levers to pivot them to open said valves, and a closing cam mounted within said casing adjacent where the free ends of said arms pass from said casing through said opening to be engaged by said control levers to pivot them to close said valves.

MILFORD HAAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe.

file of this patent:

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